Remarkable Artist, Remarkable Care

The most important thing to know about my wife, Shirley Weisbrod, is that she has been a remarkable person all of her life.

By age 12 she would head out all alone each Saturday, taking two street cars from her Lawndale neighborhood in Chicago to the Field Museum in order to get lost in their exhibits.

Three years later, she had become a talented seamstress and dress designer, eventually gaining an acceptance letter from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. (Ultimately, however, she attended the University of Illinois, earning a degree in education, and later earned a fine arts degree from the University of Wisconsin.)

As an adult Shirley became not only a serious cellist, but a professional artist who succeeded in creating works in etching, casting, oil and watercolor painting, copper and pewter metals, sculpture, handmade paper and stained glass. She also spent a year at the Yale School of Art, studying sculpture and etching with master artists.

Each week, Shirley is visited by a Midwest CareCenter music therapist. Although she cannot communicate with words, I have no doubt that she is positively affected by the guitar, percussion and voice. This therapy complements her clinical care to treat Shirley as a whole person, and both of us know it is important that other patients have the same access to this care.

That's why Shirley's artwork is on display from Oct. 22 through Nov. 30 in the organization's Atrium Gallery, at 2050 Claire Court in Glenview, as a fundraiser for the Music Care Services program. The exhibit will feature an Opening Reception from 1 to 3 p.m. on Sunday, October 25,

I will come with Shirley, and my hope is that this display will surround her with her artwork (and some pieces by our late daughter, Linda), ultimately bringing her joy. I also hope that you, too, will find joy in Shirley's amazing and prolific work, so that together we can raise funds to ensure all patients are treated mentally, physically and emotionally through Music Care Services.

For more details about Shirley's artwork, and to see some wonderful examples, please visit her website: www.weisbrod-art.com.